PM’s office staffer used as commentator by Radio NZ

Radio NZ reports:

In questions to the Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran, National MP Melissa Lee asked whether RNZ, as a publicly owned broadcaster, would be acting independently “if a ministerial staffer was featured as an independent commentator”.

Ms Lee was referring to an episode of ‘The Panel’ that aired on 12 February featuring Tracey Bridges, who is co-founder and former New Zealand managing partner at SenateSHJ, a public relations company.

She asked the minister about Ms Bridges being on the programme, “discussing government policy, if it wasn’t made clear that they were a political staffer in a ministerial office”.

Tracey Bridges wasn’t just a ministerial staffer but in fact a prime ministerial contract staffer at the time she went on The Panel. She was described as working for Senate SHJ when she had in fact left there.

RNZ National programme manager David Allan said his staff had talked to Ms Bridges today and she confirmed she worked as an independent contractor for a number of organisations, including Ministerial Services.

“It is a concern that Tracey appeared on The Panel without declaring this to us or to listeners,” Mr Allan said.

“It is a timely reminder for RNZ that we need to be fully transparent about any potential conflicts of interest.

“We are reviewing our processes around The Panel to make this sure this doesn’t happen again.”

I don’t think the fault lies with Radio NZ.  If you are working in the Prime Minister’s office, then of course you should declare that to a media organisation you are doing commentary for.